Tracers unable to contact hundreds

Coronavirus tracers have failed to contact almost 700 Scots who should be quarantining after overseas trips, and fewer than 20 cases have been passed to police, according to figures from Public Health Scotland.

The data shows that of the 36,826 Scots who should have self-isolated after visiting higher risk countries, staff at the National Contact Tracing Centre attempted to get in touch with 3,614.

There were 686 cases where the teams were unable to contact the person, the figures showed.

Separate figures from Police Scotland showed the force has only received 19 reports from Public Health Scotland regarding travel regulations.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton called on the

Scottish Government to explain the “glaring gaps” in the figures.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said Health Secretary Jeane Freeman should “urgently clarify” the issue.

He said: “People will be rightly puzzled at the glaring gaps in the numbers when it comes to quarantine orders for those coming in from higher risk countries.

“Public Health Scotland have recorded almost 700 people that couldn’t be tracked down but only 19 referrals were made to Police Scotland.

“If contact tracers can’t find people, do they just give up? The public need to have confidence in this system and the strength of our measures to catch cases coming in from abroad.

“If the system is lapsing in any area people will be vulnerable. The health secretary needs to urgently clarify this process.”